Illuminated bathroom fixture



March 1, 1960 w. A. TROTT ILLUMINATED BATHROOM FIXTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Sept. 18, 1957 INVENTOR. Wm. A 77-o# BY L; ATTORN EY W. A. TROTT ILLUMINATED BATHROOM FIXTURE March 1, 1960 Filed Sept. 18, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A: ATTORNEY- Unite My invention relates to new and useful improvements in wall fixtures, particularly fixtures adapted to be used in bathrooms and the like and to be situated above washbasins, the principal object and essence of my invention being to provide a device of the character herewithin described which is in the form of an internally illuminated cabinet manufactured of a translucent plastic such as acrylic or Plexiglas, incorporating a mirror and an outwardly projecting shelf also adapted to be illuminated internally which in turn illuminates the general area therebelow.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described in which the shelf area of the cabinet is completely illuminated internally by the surrounding translucent frame or carcass.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described in which the plastic carcass can be swung clear of the rear frame portion upon hinges for ready access to the illuminating elements.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which is particularly suitable for use within present day bathrooms and the like inasmuch as it is adapted to be recessed within the area normally provided for conventional medicine cabinets.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described in which the entire carcass is manufactured of translucent plastic all of which permits light to be diffused softly therethrough with a halving effect due to its projecting slightly from the associated wall, and also permits the mirror portion thereof to be surrounded by a frame of light while illuminating the same.

With the foregoing objects in view, and such other objects and advantages as will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates as this specification proceeds, my invention consists essentially in the arrangement and construction of parts all as hereinafter more particularly described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a perspective representation of my bathroom wall fixture with cabinet door shown fragmented.

Figure 2 is a vertical section substantially along the lines 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a synoptic perspective representation of my fixture in situ over a bathroom washbasin.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

Conventional bathroom medicine cabinets usually consist of a chest recessed into the wall and situated above the Wash-basin, the door of the cabinet being faced with mirror glass. However, the problem of illuminating this mirror is not well handled in most present day bathrooms. The practice usually consists either of placing a striplight or lights above or at the sides of the mirror, or alternatively supplying a source of illumination more or less remote from the cabinet.

rates atent The strip-light method of illumination, if not shaded, causes considerable glare both directly and via the mirrored reflection thereof. If shaded to avoid this glare, then the illumination is suflicient only to illuminate the mirror itself and not the surrounding area.

The present device overcomes these disadvantages inasmuch as the entire framework of the cabinet is formed of translucent plastic illuminated internally. This not only provides a frame of softly diffused light around and servicing the mirror, but also illuminates the interior of the cabinet and the wash-bowl area therebelow.

Proceeding therefore to describe my invention in detail, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings in which is illustrated the device consisting of two main portions, a posterior wall-mounting portion collectively designated 1 and a formed anterior translucent plastic carcass collectively designated 2, said carcass'being hingedly connected to the portion 1 as will hereinafter be described.

The wall-mounting portion 1 consists of a shallow hollow metal boxing 3 having a rear wall 4 and surrounding side walls 5. These side walls terminate in out-turned flanges 6 which operate to locate the boxing within the wall opening bounded by wall surfaces 7 so that when the portion 1 is in position, it is recessed within the said wall surface as shown in Figure 2.

Illuminating element support brackets 8 extend down the sides of wall-mounting portion 1 adjacent to and parallel with side-walls 5, said brackets carrying conventional fluorescent lamp holders 9 upon each end thereof. Horizontal face-brackets 10 are situated so as to span the side walls 5 of the wall-portion 1 and parallel thereto, these carrying lamp holders 11. From the foregoing it will be appreciated that when the horizontal and vertical fluorescent lamps 12 are secured between their holders, all four sides of my wall-mounting portion carry longitudinal light sources. The carcass, collectively designated 2 is formed from a one-piece pressing of translucent plastic, preferably white, or creamy white so that light passing therethrough from the aforementioned fluorescent lamps 12 casts a soft, pleasant radiance from which glare spots are eliminated. it will be appreciated however that with modern bathroom designs, various colored tints may be used in the manufacture of this carcass, should it be desired, for instance, that the fixture blend with a specific decor.

The perimeter of carcass 2 is similar to that of the portion 1, and is internally cavitated, thereby providing a central recess 13 and an outwardly projecting three-sided frame 14, the upper part of the central recess 13 functioning as a cabinet as will hereinafter be described. Recess 13 includes the rear panel or wall 15 which is substantially rectangular, and side walls 16 and 17 extending therefrom. The side walls 16 and 17 constitute the vertical sides (or jambs) of recess 13. The inner surfaces thereof diverge slightly outwards fiom the edges of rear panel 15. Wall (or lintel) 18 is co-planar upon the facing surface 19 with the corresponding facing surfaces of jambs 16 and 17 as clearly illustrated. In-turned perimetrical flanks 20 surrounding the three upper sides of my carcass diverge slightly from the facing surfaces aforesaid.

Also formed integrally with the carcass is an outwardly projecting blistered sill 21 formed at the lower end of the carcass and extending substantially across the width thereof. Reference to Figure 2 will show that the upper surface 22 of this sill, which is hollow, is coterminous and integral with panel 15.

The upper or cabinet portion of recess 13 is provided with a plurality of glass shelves 23 spanning the sides thereof. These are supported by brackets 24 secured to the aforesaid inner surfaces of sides 16 and 17.

A substantially rectangular mirror 25 is hingedly secured at points 26 to the angle between side wall 16 of 31 so that the entire carcass can be swung outwardly and upwardly from portion 1 in order to gain access to the fluorescent lamps 12 therebehind. Any conventional means such as spring clip 32 may be provided adjacent or attached to side 33 of the portion 1 so as to maintain the carcass in closed postion under normal circumstances.

It will be observed that the brackets 8 and 10 carrying fluorescent lamp 12 are so formed that the lamps are advanced with respect to the plane of rear wall 4. Also that when the carcass is in the closed position, these lamps are located within the internal cavities of the outwardly projecting frame and sill of the carcass so that they diffuse light on all four exterior'sides of the carcass as well as upon its facing surfaces and inner surfaces (bounding recess 13). l

Thus due to the translucent nature of the plastic from which the carcass is formed, my mirror is marginally illuminated. Due to the fact that the carcass projects beyond Wall surface 7, it will be obvious that the surrounding wall area is also illuminated.

Of great importance too, is the illuminating function of sill'21, which, it will be observed, overlies washbasin 34. Inasmuch as this sill is hollow and projects outwardly beyond the plane of the facing surfaces of my surrounding jambs and lintel, and that the lower fluorescent lamp 1Z'is situated within the confines of the sill, a considerable quantum of light passes downwardly through its lower surface 35 to illuminate washbasin 34. In this way my invention eliminates the need for other lamps specifically for this purpose. 7

In light of the foregoing, I hereby summarize the inventive concept of my invention for reader-convenience in the interpretation of the following claims, as broadly residing in the combination of the aforesaid posterior wall mounting portion 1, a translucent plastic carcass 2 anteriorly positioned with respect to the wall portion so as to overlie the same, preferably in hinged attachment thereto, such carcass constituting a pressing whereby it is surface-formed in the manner hereafter progressively defined in the appended claims, and preferably so as to delineate a central recess 13 (in which shelves 23 may if desired be placed), an internally (or posteriorly) cavitated, outwardly projecting three-sided frame 14 surrounding recess 3, and (again preferably though not essentially) an outwardly projecting sill 21, a mirrored door 25 hingedly overlying recess 13, and illuminating means such as elements or lamps 12 enclosed between wall mounting and carcass, preferably substantially within the confines of frame 14.

Since various modifications can be made in my invention as hereinabove described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims without departing from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

What I claim as my invention is: V V a p .1. As an article of manufacture, ,an internally illumined wall-fixture embodying in combination a posterior wallmounting portion, a surface-formed translucent plastic carcass overlying said wall-mounting portion, saidcarcass being characterized by the provision of a central recess functioning as a vertically disposed cabinet, an internally cavitated, outwardly projecting frame surrounding said recess and at least two elongated and parallel illuminating elements enclosed between said wall-mountingportion and said carcass and on either side of said recess, said elements also lying parallel with said frame and at least within the produced confines thereof. 7

2.'The article of manufacture according to claim 1 which includes a vertically disposed and exteriorly refleeting mirror overlying said recess, said mirror functioning as a door hinged upon one vertical side thereof to enclose said cabinet.

3. The article of manufacture according to claim .1 V

in which said carcass is hingedly connected to said wallmounting portion.

4. The article of manufacture according to claim .1 in which said carcass includes'an outwardly projecting blistered sill at the base of said recess capable of illurninating the area therebelow.

References Cited in thevfile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS.

1,598,821 Holland Sept. 7, 1926 1,680,062 Newton Aug. 7, 1928 2,677,044 Lawler Apr. 27, 1954 2,784,302 Golden Mar. 5, 1957 

